simplewall VS Open-Shell-Menu

EU server list: https://pastebin.com/raw/Sh1VXdTZ - compatibile with simplewall - just update game install path for records (find & replace all)

You could install WPD (https://wpd.app/), use Simplewall (https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall) and a pihole on the network to block a lot, but it's still sad that we need to do this.

Apple alternatives include LuLu (https://github.com/objective-see/LuLu)

Edit: Now that I am back on a PC I did find this https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall/issues/1307 Basically same issue I had and how to address it. Figured I post for future readers lol.

Using third party software. Yes. (it is just gui for windows firewall)

I use OpenSnitch on Linux which is great, and if you are looking for a similar software for Windows I can recommend simplewall.

https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall

I'm currently using https://github.com/henrypp/simplewall

I have been using simplewall for a long time. I love it. But I can not use mobile hotspot for local wireless lan.

I've been very happy happy with https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu as a Start Menu replacement. If ads have rolled out to my Windows install, I wouldn't even notice.

Whenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've made the operating system look very close to Windows XP visually, and they always appreciate it.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

[2] https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar

There's Open-Shell but it's not exactly a full WM replacement.

Hi yall, I used Open-Shell to change the icon.

There is also Open Shell, a free and open source tool which performs a similar function.

I wish so bad there is a port (a fork) of the Legacy Kickoff start menu for Windows: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1083

Classic Start Menu

I use Open Shell (fork of Classic Shell) as a replacement to original Start Menu. This gives me full control over what appears in start menu - no results from internet, animated tiles, etc (I am on Win 10 though, from what I read the Win 11 is supported, but not yet officially [1]). It could be a solution to the ads appearing in start menu.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1564

Looks like you're going for an XP theme. May I suggest using open-shell to skin the taskbar, start menu, and start button if you wanna take that extra step? You can also find the taskbar skin and start button here. Also, I would remove the search bar, task view button, and news & interest area of the taskbar just to bring things together. This is all just a suggestion, you don't have to if you don't want to.